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SCOTTISH ROCKS' TEAM NEWS, 2008-09 |
29/08/08
The Scottish Rocks have added to their roster for the upcoming 2008/09 season with the addition of ex Cheshire Jets forward Marc Pratt.
The 6ft4 athletic swingman is both an offensive and defensive coup for the Rocks with Pratt's reputation in the BBL as a strong defensive stopper.
Pratt's talents are well known to Rocks Head Coach, Sterling Davis, who played against the London born slasher in his 2007/08 campaign as a Jets player. However Davis believes Pratt has a lot more to offer on the BBL stage.
"Marc is a player who has a lot of talent on both ends of the floor. I think last year he wasn't able to showcase everything he is capable of due to a nagging shoulder injury but now that he is fully fit and ready to prove himself within the league, we will see the emergence of a talented player. I think he will fit in with everything we stand for here at the Rocks."
Pratt arrived in Glasgow last night to begin work in the Rocks community programmes and will make his first appearance in front of a Rocks home crowd on 19th October when the Rocks tip-off their new reign at Glasgow's Kelvin Hall.
01/08/08
The
SAMG Verve Scottish Rocks have completed the signing of former Sheffield
standout and BBL All-Star Blake Shelton.
The 27-year-old guard played alongside Rocks' coach Sterling Davis at Sheffield in 2005, and went on to finish runner-up in the BBL Championship and earn an All-Star spot in 2006/07. He was twice a BBL Championship Playoff semi-finalist, losing to the Rocks at the National Indoor Arena in 2005/06.
Shelton, 6'6", averaged 16.3 points per game over his 76-game Sheffield career, as well as contributing 6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
"I was with Blake since he first started his professional career three seasons ago," said Coach Davis, "he impressed me with his size and ability to handle the ball while also having the footwork and speed of your typical guard."
In Shelton, Davis has secured one of his main targets since taking over as Head Coach in 2007 and he expects him to become a huge asset to the organisation both on and off the court.
"He has been a guy I have been chasing since I took on this role and to be able to finalise this deal with him is a big plus for what we want to accomplish this season. Not only is he a very talented player but a good guy from a good background. We are all pleased to have him in a Rocks uniform."
Last season Shelton featured for German Bundesliga side Jena, where he was in the starting five for 14 games and averaged 8 points per outing whilst shooting 36.2% three-pointers, before moving to German ProA team Chemnitz, averaging 13.3 points per game.
On returning to the BBL and linking up again with Davis, Shelton commented: "I'm excited to get there and get started with the team and to work with "old man" Sterl again. I am also looking forward to returning to the UK after having a tough season in Germany."
Blake and his new team-mates will begin pre-season training in Glasgow's Kelvin Hall in Sept with the Rocks' first home game at their new West End home tipping off on 19th October.
09/07/08
Rocks lose Hampton and Wohlers
24/06/08
The SAMG
Verve Scottish Rocks have confirmed that Scotland international Gareth Murray
will return to the Glasgow-based side for his fourth successive season.
Murray, who hails from Arbroath, is just off a busy week where he captained Scotland to a third place finish in the European Championships (Division C).
Murray was the team's top scorer averaging 14 points per game. He also led the team in steals and blocked shots.
On his return to the Rocks, Murray is both pleased and anxious. "I'm really glad to be coming back to the Rocks for another year," said Murray. "It's a great organisation with great fans and I like playing close to home.
"We had a good, but tough, season last year and I feel like we have some unfinished business. The fans deserve some silverware and we've been close in the past few years, but this year I want to make sure we get it done. I'm ready to get started on that plan."
Rocks' player/coach Sterling Davis once stated that Murray is the most talented player on the squad, and he is glad to have the high-flying Scot back on his side for another season.
"The last thing I wanted was to see him on the opposing team. Gareth has unique talent in a lot of ways and he can be one of the most exciting players in the League. He can shoot, he can run, he can jump, and everyone knows how he can dunk. Gareth is a big part of our plans for this next season and hopefully beyond."
Murray averaged 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game during the 2007/08 campaign; he was also a competitor in the Molten Dunk Contest at the BBL Finals Weekend.
Despite these solid numbers, Davis will be looking for even more from the Scotland captain next season. He commented: "Yeah, I think 'G' can step it up a bit. He has a lot of weapons, so we just need to fill out the rest of the team and get the system in place so he has a chance to do what he can do."
With this first signing complete, Davis and the Rocks will next look to secure the services of team captain and point-guard Rob Yanders who is currently back in America. Talks have gone well so far and the club are hopeful of another signing in the next few weeks.